Bee in Turlock: Soiseth lead mayoral fundraising

Gary Soiseth has taken a big early lead in fundraising for the Turlock mayoral election.

He reported raising $32,402 through June 30, compared with $8,924 for Mike Brem. They are vying to succeed Mayor John Lazar, who is not seeking a new term in the Nov. 4 election.

The deadline for other mayoral candidates to file their candidacy paper is Aug. 13 because the incumbent is not running. The deadline for the two council seats at stake is Friday because both incumbents, Bill DeHart and Forrest White, are in the race.

The finance reports are required by the state Fair Political Practices Commission. Turlock is taking the extra step of placing them on the city website, as directed by the council in April.

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That move was a compromise after the rejection of a rule proposed by Councilman Steven Nascimento. He sought to bar members from voting on matters that could financially benefit donors of $2,000 or more over the previous 36 months.

Critics of this idea said the online posting, promptly available to the public, would achieve the same goal of preventing undue influence from donors.

It’s time to rally to the cause for three Turlock charities – by playing volleyball in a mud pit.

An Aug. 30 tournament, Muddy with a Mission, will take place on Auto Mall Drive, just west of Highway 99. The proceeds will go to the Turlock Gospel Mission, the Turlock Pregnancy Center and the Prodigal Sons & Daughters addiction treatment center.

The organizers are planning on 64 teams. The fee is $300 for a team of six to eight; a ninth and tenth player can be added for $10 each. Each team must have at least two female players on the court at all times.

Players not part of a team can sign up for $30. All players will get T-shirts. The event also will feature food, an artisan fair and a kids-only mud pit.

The event will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration and other information is at (209) 656-9898 or www.muddywithamission.org.

And finally, a new exhibit at the Carnegie Arts Center features Yosemite National Park and the Sierra region. Yosemite Renaissance XXIX opened Wednesday at the center, 250 N. Broadway.

Yosemite Renaissance is an annual competition now in its 29th year, arts center officials said in a news release. “Its purpose is to cultivate diverse contemporary expressions of Yosemite and the Sierra by today’s artists.”

This year’s exhibit was drawn from nearly 600 entries and includes “a broad range of works from the traditional to the abstract.” The traveling exhibit opened at the Yosemite Museum Gallery in February before traveling to the Kings Art Center in Hanford. It will be on display in the Carnegie lobby gallery until Sept. 28.

The Carnegie is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., staying open Fridays until 8 p.m. Admission to the lobby is free.